MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH pages 8-12 • Volume 8 No. 2 July 2017

Fasciola AND Paramphistomum INFECTIONS IN SMALL ( AND GOAT) IN TERENGGANU

MURSYIDAH A.K.1, KHADIJAH S.1* AND RITA N.1 School of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21300, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. * Corresponding author: [email protected]

ABSTRACT. A study was conducted to INTRODUCTION identify the current status of Fasciola and Paramphistomum infections in small About 70% of small ruminants farming in ruminants in Terengganu. A total of 267 Malaysia were reared in small farms, usually faecal samples from small ruminants were in small groups of 20-50 (Alimon, collected and subjected to sedimentation 1990). Trematode infections are the main technique. Serum samples were diagnosed threat to the production of sheep and goats for detection of IgG antibody for Fasciola in both small-scale and large-scale farms infection using sELISA method. Results (Copeman, 1980; Sani and Rajamanickam, showed that there were 4% of the goats 1990; Koinari et al., 2013). These infections positive with Paramphistomum eggs whereas were caused by two different species, Fasciola egg was not observed in any of Fasciola sp. and Paramphistomum sp. Both the faecal samples. However, it was found species are categorised as a food- or water- that 89% of the serum samples from goats borne trematodiasis where Fasciola infection were positive with IgG antibody for Fasciola is considered as one of the most significant infection. Small ruminants in Terengganu parasitic disease for domestic ruminants were not infected with severe Fasciola (Saleha, 1991; Hopkins, 1992). These flukes and Paramphistomum infections yet the cause high mortality in small ruminants, results obtained from this study will update which depend on the occurrence of the the current status of the infections. This flukes and stage of the infections (Sripa et information will help the farmers and the al., 2010). Department of Veterinary Services to plan The increase of Fasciola infection had on management to maintain the animals’ occurred as an outcome of uncontrolled health. movements of infected animals from one Keywords: Fasciola a n d region to another region, where Fasciola sp. Paramphistomum infections, sedimentation had been endemic for several years (Faull, technique, IgG antibody, Paramphistomum 1987; Saleha, 1991). Besides that, optimal egg temperature which is above 10 °C and moisture condition are the essential aspects for the growth of larvae (miracidia), the reproduction of the snails (the intermediate host) and larval development within the

8 Volume 8 No. 2 July 2017 MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH snails (Soulsby, 1982; Mengesha, 1991; 6 months to 4 years old. A total of 20 animals Saleha, 1991). were chosen for the rectal faecal sample It was reported that in certain states collections from each of the farms. However, in Peninsular Malaysia, which were Kedah, if the farm has less than 20 animals, all the Melaka, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan animals were included in the sampling. All and Johor, there was about 34.4% of Fasciola the faecal samples were placed in separate infection in goats (Saleha, 1991). The latest containers and stored at 4 °C chiller in the data recorded on the infection in live laboratory until examination. Blood samples animals (goats) was by Lee and Sheikh-Omar from sheep and goats were collected from (1986) at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine the jugular veins. Then, samples were and Science, UPM (Selangor). centrifuged at 2000 rpm for 10 minutes. Paramphistomum infection was not reported The serum samples were obtained and in any of these studies. Thus, there is a transferred into centrifuge tubes and stored need to know the current status of Fasciola at -20 °C until processed. and Paramphistomum infection in small ruminants in order to successfully manage Parasitological examination and control the infection. Faecal samples were subjected for MATERIALS AND METHODS sedimentation technique to observe the Fasciola and Paramphistomum egg (Ministry Sampling locations and time of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1986). Serum samples were subjected for IgG The study was conducted at 16 farms, antibody detection using sELISA and the with at least two farms from each district method was conducted according to the in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. instructions that were attached in the kit Those districts include Besut, Setiu, Kuala from the manufacturer (Koma Biotech Inc., Terengganu, Hulu Terengganu, Marang, Seoul, Korea). Dungun and Kemaman. All the farms were visited in different months starting from RESULTS March 2015 to December 2015. The sampling was organised by the Department of Prevalence of Fasciola eggs from faecal Veterinary Services with the guidance from samples veterinary assistants from each district in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. Fasciola egg was not detected in any of the faecal samples (n=267) for all the farms Animal selections and sample collections (n=16).

In this study, 267 rectal faecal samples were collected from animals that include 41 males and 226 females, in the range of age

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Prevalence of Paramphistomum eggs samples (n=76) were positive for IgG from faecal samples antibody for Fasciola infection in goats.

It was found that 100% of the animals (n=10) DISCUSSION from one of the farm in Kuala Terengganu (5.39368°, 103.09563°) had Paramphistomum This study reported the current status of infection. Therefore, from the total of Fasciola and Paramphistomum infections in the faecal samples diagnosed (n=267), small ruminants in Terengganu. From the 4% of the samples were positive with results, it can be concluded that Fasciola and Paramphistomum eggs. Figure 1 shows the Paramphistomum infections are not severe egg of Paramphistomum in faecal samples. in small ruminants in Terengganu. However, farmers should be aware so that the animals’ IgG antibody detection for Fasciola health is maintained, especially when the infections in goats sELISA results showed that the animals were once exposed to Fasciola infection. Serum samples were randomly selected In this study, Fasciola egg was not (n=86) for IgG antibody detection using detected in any of the faecal samples when serological test sELISA for Fasciola infection. processed using sedimentation method. These samples were found to be negative However, the results of IgG antibody for Fasciola eggs during sedimentation detection using sELISA revealed that 89% of technique. It was found that 89% of the the serum samples were positive, indicating

Figure 1. The egg of Paramphistomum indicated by the arrow.

10 Volume 8 No. 2 July 2017 MALAYSIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH exposure to Fasciola infection. Sedimentation particularly in young animals (Horak, 1971; technique is less accurate for detection of Malek, 1980; Noble and Noble, 1982; Hanna Fasciola eggs (Happich and Boray, 1969) due et al., 1988; Melaku and Addis, 2012). Adults to undetected eggs from the faeces. During Paramphistomum can cause severe illness the migration stage, the immature flukes do by submerging themselves into the sub not lay eggs and with low worm burdens mucosa of the duodenum that results the output is small. In addition to that, eggs in anorexia, diarrhoea, drop in plasma laid may be irregular and pass unobserved protein concentration and anaemia, which (Dorchies, 2007). Flukes are not prolific egg eventually deteriorate the host (Dube and layers so the number of eggs is always very Aisien, 2010). Thus, farmers should be aware low (10 to 100 eggs in ruminants). Report of the spread of the infections among the showed that if there are less than 20 flukes animals even though they are having light in bile ducts, the sensitivity of e.p.g. counting infection. methods is too low to show the appearance of the eggs in the faecal sample (Dorchies, CONCLUSION 2007). Therefore, a more subtle method was introduced to detect the rate of the From the results of sELISA, it can be Fasciola infection in animals. Most of the concluded that small ruminants in methods were related to the Enzyme Linked Terengganu were exposed to Fasciola Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test where the infection. Sedimentation results were majority of tests are applied to the detection negative, indicating either very low worm of blood antibodies. The occurrence of burden or previous exposure towards positive result for the antibody detection Fasciola infection. Serological test gives could be due to previous and present a better and accurate result on Fasciola infection (Espino et al., 1998). infection in small ruminants compared About 4% of the total animals had to sedimentation method. Thus, it is Paramphistomum infection in Terengganu. recommended for future studies to include Other studies that had reported the serological tests for the diagnosis of Fasciola occurrence of Fasciola infection did not infection in small ruminants. Results from report the results for Paramphistomum this study also reported the occurrence infection in Malaysia (Sani et al., 1985; Lee of Paramphistomum infection in goats, and Sheikh-Omar, 1986; Rajamanickam et and further study should be conducted to al., 1996). In this study, it was observe that determine the prevalence and the severity of the Paramphistomum egg count in the the infection in other farms in Malaysia. faecal samples were below 100 e.p.g. Light infection does not cause severe damages to the animals, but huge number of immature Paramphistomum can migrate through intestinal tract causing acute gastroenteritis with high morbidity and mortality rates

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